A Sober Look At Crucifixions.
The Romans were experts in the art of crucifixion. They were also notorious accountants and we know a lot about them today.Crucifixion was the standard execution method throughout the Roman Empire and mass executions were not uncommon. Quite often those who were executed were simply hoisted up a pole to hang there by their arms. The effect was the same.
On Golgotha were several of these poles (Greek skólops, “a stake”, “a pole”) planted firmly in the ground; no crosses. Each pole had a metal ring at the top of it and through this ring was a rope long enough for both ends to reach the ground. The one end of this rope was split into two strands and fitted with a metal hook each. The other end of the rope was fitted with a metal ring.
The crossbeam of the cross was detachable and had a metal ring on either end. When somebody was crucified, he was attached to the crossbeam which was then attached onto the split ends of the rope by means of the hooks and rings and hoisted up the pole.
The victim was tied to the crossbeam with ropes and in severe cases, nails were driven through the hands and feet of the victim for extra punishment. Death was not always deemed as enough punishment and the victim was often flogged beforehand.
Having to plant a new cross for every crucifixion was way too time consuming and having to use ladders to hang a person to a cross had its own challenges. It was just simply not practical.
At the place of trail there were always a few spare crossbeams (Greek staurós, “a cross”, “a crossbeam”, “the crucifixion”). In the case of very notorious enemies or criminals, the victim was tied to the crossbeam immediately after the trial to make it difficult to escape in case his friends should attempt to rescue him on his way to the place of execution.
The cause of death by crucifixion is asphyxiation. With the rib cage splayed open and expanded through hanging by the arms, the respiratory muscles eventually collapsed and the person stopped breathing. Not an easy death.
I wish all Christian a very happy Good Friday.
To the non-Christians enjoy this public holiday.
And to those who have to work today, stay loose - it is Friday.
Comments (35)
Thank you and the same to you.
Thank you.
I did expect to be crucified on my own blog because what I wrote contradicts a minor detail in the bible. But I suppose it will still come.
Thank you too. Did you spot where my blog deviates from what most Christians believe?
And I am Agnostic. One of those fence sitters who do not know for sure. But I am a biblical scholar seeking the answers.
But enjoy this day just the same.
At school, before I started studying Scripture, it was always said that Jesus was Flogged, made drag his Cross through the Streets, and then the cross was put up. I would imagine that because of the outcry at the fact he had pronounced his Diety, that his would have been worse than most of the Crucifixons but this is only supposition on my part. I do know that the man beside him was simply a thief, but he probably stole from somebody important ? Also when studying Scripture, I was told that the Nails infact went through the Wrists, whatever, it seems like a barbaric and gruesome death, I would see the worst pain of all as the emotional one where Jesus, son of God endured the knowledge of Sin and felt the complete lack of love, the desolation that is lack of love, that emanates from Sin, hence that was the awful agony as well, hence he shouted out in desolation.
I respect the fact that you are Agnostic, and am grateful for this interesting piece on Good Friday, again have a lovely Easter.
Here's one for you cat, if the earth and universe is only 6 thousand years old as claimed by religious groups and the suns energy takes x amount of years to reach the surface from the reactive core.
When did light and energy first strike the earth?
I think many theologists have come to realize that they are missing a few years somewhere. The answers to that is also there but most are to blind to see it and I am not going to explore that today. Religion is a slow changing field and no cleric is - or will be - prepared to deviate from the standard accepted practice without mass support. A shortcut into excommunication.
Good info...we do not want to see you ex-communinated...lol...have a great day and enjoy!!
It is not specifically for Christians. This is how the Romans did it and, as they did the crucifixion of Jesus, it stands to reason that this is most probably the way Jesus was crucified..
The bible does not tell us anything about the actual event other than that He had to carry His own 'cross' up the hill. He could not do so and somebody had to help Him.
It is interesting to note that this man was a stranger passing by. He did not volunteer for the job and was forced to do it. I wonder where his disciples were at the time.
Most Christians may reject this procedure on grounds of the cross vs crossbeam variation but there is nothing in the bible that may suggest that any different procedure was followed.
You have a wonderful Easter! What's for dinner?
Yes, this is why they were in such a hurry to get Jesus off the cross and buried. The yearly Passover feast was about to start. Needless to say that the Passover was replaced by Easter.
Thank you but may I humbly point it out to you that the Bible tells us NOTHING about the actual crucifixion other than that Jesus had to carry his own - to use the original Greek word - staurós.
This word has three meanings:
As a verb it means to crucify.
(note - if a man was hanged on a stake without a crossbeam he was also said to be crucified.)
As a noun it could mean a cross or a crossbeam.
People are placing too much accent on a word that was, in all probability, translated incorrectly.
The Romans hat no quarrel with Jesus - a man who told the people to pay their taxes - and there is no reason to believe that they would have treated him any different than anybody else.
I cannot for the life of me see why Pontius Pilate would order a special cross made up; especially after losing a night's sleep because of this man.
There was not the time to have one made in any event.
Have you thought about the size of the cross. The upright member had to be long enough to go deep in the ground so it wont fall over while suspending Jesus still high enough that they had to use a stick to reach his mouth while hanging there.
Can you see one or two men carting such a peace of solid wood up a hill?
Thank you and I'm glad you found it interesting.
At Easter time there is an ample supply of pickled fish and I love it.
but thanks for the informative blog and have a really great day...
Yes, you are absolutely correct. As I said in my blog, it was for severe cases as additional punishment. The were still tied with ropes and the nails came afterwards.
And bear in mind that nails in those days were not as smooth or sharp as the nails we by in the shops today.
Not meaning to sound callous but the possibility does exist that they may have kept a special set of nails for these 'special customers' and that they were reused.
Happy Easter, hope your bunny is good to you
I normally just agree when I don't know. There once lived a very wise man who said that even a fool can be seen as wise as long as he kept his mouth closed. I believed him and it paid off.
Sorry, I had some really bad connectivity today and I misted your comment here.
Asterix was my favorite cartoon character at some stage. General Electrix and his band really gave the Romans a touch time. It took them very long to stabilize Gaul.
Thank you and I am very pleased that I could have shared this bit of knowledge with everybody who participated here. This is my greatest interest in Bible; the politics in the countries surrounding the Bible. It explains so many things that was left unanswered in the Bible. These external events had a great bearing on what happened in the Bible.
Goodness gracious me. I have not seen you for a very long time.
Now that one I cannot answer but you are probably correct.
Who would have thought that it will cause a slow and agonizing death within hours if you hang a man by his arms.
Oh dear, I'm a bit lost now. What is it that you told me?